Building with rotatable observation structure



April 19, 1966 L. FAERBER 3,246,431

BUILDING WITH ROTATABLE OBSERVATION STRUCTURE Filed Oct. 17, 1962 4Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR:

LEOPOLD FAERBER, B

HIS A TTOKNEX April 19, 1966 L. FAERBER 3,246,431

BUILDING WITH ROTATABLE OBSERVATION STRUCTURE Filed Oct. 17, 62 4Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR: LEOPOLD FAERBER,

H15 nrrOk/WEX April 19, 1966 L. FAERBER 3,246,431

BUILDING WITH ROTATABLE OBSERVATION STRUCTURE Filed Oct. 17, 1 62 4Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VEN TOR. LEOPOLD FAERBER HIS A TT R VEY.

April 1966 1.. FAERBER 3,246,431

BUILDING WITH ROTATABLE OBSERVATION STRUCTURE Filed Oct. 17, 1962 4Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR: LEOPOLD FAERBE a,

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United-States Patent 3,246,431 BUILDING WllTH RUTATABLE UBSERVATIONSTRUCTURE Leopold Faerber, Schwanenwall 2 /2, Dortmund, Germany FiledOct. 17, 1962,'Ser. No. 231,132

8 Claims. (Cl. 52-65) This is a continuation-in-part of my applicationSerial No. 787,178, filed January 16, 1959, now Patent No.

The invention relates to high tower buildings, and relates moreparticularly to such buildings which have at a considerable height abovethe ground an observatory that surrounds the shaft and may include arotating part.

Observation rooms and restaurants have been built in which passengerscan walk around, or are carried about the shaft for instance asdescribed in my aforesaid copending application Ser. No. 787,178. Theinstant improvement, however, provides for an annular structure which isspaced from the exterior wall of the tower shaft, and supported entirelyfrom the shaft.

It is accordingly among the principal objects of the invention toprovide for a high tower building that has suspended high above theground an annular structure which surrounds the shaft and is spacedtherefrom and which is entirely supported from the shaft and free fromany direct ground support.

It is another object of the invention to provide for such a building inwhich there is mounted a rotatable member such as a rotatable platformthat rotates about the vertical axis of the hollow shaft.

It is still another object of the invention to provide for such abuilding with anti-friction bearing means, and propelling means, for therotatable member.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in partappear hereinafter.

With the above and other objects of the invention in view, the inventionconsists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination ofvarious devices, elements and parts, as set forth in the claims hereof,certain embodiments of the same being illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings and described in the specification.

In the accompanying drawings,

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a high tower building in accordancewith an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the build ing shown in FIG.1;

FIG. 3 is a large scale fragmentary vertical sectional view taken alongthe plane 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a modified high tower building;

FIG. -6 is a large scale fragmentary vertical sectional view through themodified high tower biulding shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is -a large scale schematic sectional view of a detail; and

FIG. 8 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 7 but embodying amodification.

In carrying the invention into effect in the embodiments which have beenselected for illustration in the accompanying drawings and fordescription in this specification, and referring now particularly toFIGS. 1-4, there is provided a high tower building 11 that is erected onthe ground 12. The building 11 comprises a high tower shaft 13 which,near its base, may intercommunicate with a ground building 14.

The height of the shaft 13 may be several hundred feet, and may reachabove 1,000 feet. As best shown in FIG. 6, the shaft has on its interioran upright passage 3,246,431 Patented Apr. 19, 19 66 16 in which theremay be a stairway 17 and an elevator 18 (not shown in detail). At aconsiderable height, for instance near the top of the tower shaft 13,there is suspended an annular stationary structure 19, for instance oftoroid form, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

Suspension means 21 are provided for holding aloft the structure 19. Thesuspension means 21 may include a stationary collar 22 that is supportedby the shaft 13 above the position of the structure 19. Elongatedsuspension elements 23 may be provided, such as suspension cables orrods or chains, which may be connected, preferably pivoted, to thecollar 22. The elements 23 furthermore are connected to the structure19; the elements 23 are spaced apart angularly from each other and arepositioned along the surface of a truncated cone when the structure 19is mounted on the shaft 13.

The suspension means 21 furthermore include means for positioning theannular structure 19 about the shaft 13,'such as stationary a-rms'24. InFIGS. 2 and '4 there have been shown two arms 24, as this represents aminimum requirement. These arms 24 are positioned radially of thestructure 19. There may, of course, be arranged more than two suchradial arms.

The structure 19 is hollow on its interior, and likewise are the arms 24hollow on the inside. If desired, the arms 24, as indicated in FIG. 2,may be formed integrally with the structure 19. The arms 24 thus areconnected to the structure '19,, and are also connected to the shaft 13,and each arm 24 establishes a passageway 26 between the interior of thestructure 19 and the internal upright passage 16 in the shaft 13.

As best shown in FIG. 3, the structure 19 mayon its interior be dividedinto a stationary compartment, for instance the stationary uppercompartment 28, and a moving compartment 29 wherein the people, forinstance the patrons of the observation restaurant, are carried aboutthe vertical axis X--X of the shaft. An upper doorway 31 with or withoutdoor (not shown) may lead to the upper stationary compartment 28,andsimilarly a lower doorway 32 to the lower compartment 29. Theelevator may, for instance, come to a halt opposite either doorway.

The lower compartment 29 has a rotatable member or element, such as anannular platform 33, and antifriction bearing means generallyindicatedat 34 are provided to support the platform 33 rota'tably.Driving means 36 for rotating the platform 33 may be provided, forinstance a transmission 37 and a motor 38.

The patrons may be seated at tables indicated at 39 (FIG. 4), and lookout through windows (FIGS. 2, 4). Means such as a stairway (not shown)may be provided for the movement of people between the upper compartment28 and the lower compartment 29. The upper compartment 28 may have outerwindows 42 and inner windows 43. i

If desired, also the upper compartment may have a rotatable platform andbearing means, and the upper platform may either be arranged separatelyfrom the lower platform, or be interconnected thereto for rotationtogether therewith. The former, namely the separation of the upper andlower platforms, is shown in FIG. 7, while the latter, namely theinterconnection of the upper and lower platforms, is shown in FIG. 8.

The breast work or sill is indicated at 45.

The lower platform 330 may have transverse radial grooves 44. Similarly,the support 46 which forms part 'son skilled in the art.

bath. Means are provided (not shown) for feeding continuously lubricantto the receptacle 48, so that thereby the sliding faces, namely theunder-surface 51 of the platform 33a and the upper surface 52 of thesupport 46 will continuously be lubricated. As shown in FIG. 7, thesliding faces will at all times be below thelevel of thebath of thelubricant 49.

The support 53 for the upper platform 33b may be hollow, as shown at 54,and the upper platform 33b may have transverse lubricating grooves 56.Lubricant may again be fed in a well known suitable manner (not shown),to keep the sliding faces lubricated at all times.

Separate driving means 57 and 58 may be provided for driving separatelythe upper platform 33b and lower platform 33a, respectively.

In FIG. 8 the lower platform 33c and upper platform 33d areinterconnected at 331e, to be driven together by driving means 59.

The bearing means in FIG. '8 include roller bearings with taperedrolling elements, such as conical needles 61. The uppermost portions 62of the needles 61 are disposed horizontally, supporting the platforms330 and 33d.

Conical thrust bearings of this type are known per se, for instance ofthe type shown in Patent No. 2,869,943, issued on January 20, 1959.

It will be understood by persons skilled in this and related arts thatthe constructions shown herein are not limited to the specific bearingmeans shown therewith; and that any of the constructions hereof may beprovided with any suitable bearing means, for instance any of thestructures shown herein may be provided with the needle bearings shownin FIG. 8.

In the embodiment of FIG. 6, the upright shaft 113 is connected to aground building 114 and has an annular structure 119 suspended bysuspension elements 123 from a collar 122.

The rotatable element 133 is of U-shaped cross section and has, forinstance, anti-friction bearing means 134, of any suitable type, forinstance of the type shown in FIG. 7 or of the type shown in FIG. 8. Therotatable element 133 includes windows which are unobstructed by thestructure 119, so that the windows rotate along with the observer andpermit an unobstructed view. The rotatable element 133 need not bedisposed entirely within the structure 119.

Only the rotatable element 133, or platform 33, and the features carriedthereby rotate in any of the embodiments. The tower shaft 13, 113, thesuspension means, the structure 19, 119 and the arms 24, 124 areallstationary.

The structure 19, 119 may be assembled at the base of the tower, and beraised by means of the suspension elements 23, 123. In the correctposition, the entrances are firmly connected to the tower shaft 13, 113.

Where cables form the suspension elements 23, 123 the cables arepreferably pre-stressed against an encircling tube (not shown) in orderto minimize distortion due to stresses of the structure 19, 119.

The configuration of the structures 19, 119 may have any desired crosssection, such as circular (FIG. 3) or elliptical or polygonal, or thelike. This makes for good adaptability to various applicable uses.

I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to theexact details of construction shown and described, for obviousmodifications will occur to a per- Having thus described the invention,what I claim as new and desire to be secured by Letters Patent, is asfollows:

1. .A high tower building, comprising an upright high tower shafterected on the ground and having an upright passage, an annularstationary hollow structure disposed at considerable height above theground and surrounding and being spaced from said shaft defining withthe exterior surface of the shaft an annular gap, and means suspendingsaid structure entirely from said shaft, including at least two hollowstationary arms connected to said shaft and to said structureestablishing passageways between the interior of said'structure and saidpassage, means enabling passengers to move in said shaft passage to andfrom the arms, whereby the passengers may move between the shaft and thehollow annular structure, and suspension elements connnected to saidshaft above said structure and connected to said structure.

2. In a tower building, as claimed in claim 1, an annular rotatableelement supported by and rotatable with relation to the structure aboutthe axis of the shaft.

3. A high tower building, comprising an upright high tower shaft erectedon the ground and having an upright passage, an annular stationaryhollow structure disposed at considerable height above the ground andsurrounding and being spaced from said shaft defining with the externalsurface of the shaft an annular gap, means suspending said structureentirely from said shaft including at least two stationary armsconnected to said shaft and connected to said structure establishing atleast one passageway between the interior of said structure and saidpassage, means enabling passengers to move in said shaft passage to andfrom said passageway, whereby the passengers may move between the shaftand the hollow annular structure, and a series of elongated suspensionelements connected to said structure and connected with relation to saidshaft at a height disposed above said structure,- an annular rotatablemember supported by said structure, anti-friction bearing meansintermediate said structure and said member, and means supported by saidstructure and operable for rotating said member about the upright axisof the shaft. U 4. In a tower building, a claimed in claim 3, saidsuspending means further comprising a stationary collar mounted on saidshaft above said structure, each suspension element being pivoted tosaid collar, said elements when the structure is mounted on the towerbeing positioned along the surface of a truncated cone.

5. In a tower building, as claimed in claim 3, said antifriction bearingmeans having a lower surface defined on said element and an uppersurface defined on said structure supporting said lower surface of saidmember, transverse lubricating grooves defined in at least one of saidsurfaces, lubricating liquid being continuously fed to said surfaces.

6. A high tower building, as claimed in claim 3, said anti-frictionbearing means including interengaging sliding faces defined on saidmember and on said structure, respectively, a lubricant bath coveringthe sliding faces, lubricant being continuously fed to said bath.

7. A high tower buildingyas claimed in claim 3, said anti-frictionbearing means comprising a roller bearing having tapered rollingelements arranged radially of the rotatable member and having theuppermost portions of the conical rolling elements disposed in ahorizontal plane and supporting said member, the taper extendingradially outwardly from the upright axis of the tower shaft.

8. In a tower building, as claimed in claim 3, said rotatable memberincluding windows rotating along with the rotatable member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 906,732 12/1908McDonagh et a1 104-56 1,039,545 9/1912 Knight. 1,686,298 10/1928 Uhl272--7 X FOREIGN PATENTS 809,398 1951 Germany. 857,443 1952 Germany.788,086 1957 Great Britain.

FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner.

JACOB L. NACKENOFF, Examiner.

1. A HIGH TOWER BUILDING, COMPRISING AN UPRIGHT HIGH TOWER SHAFT ERECTEDON THE GROUND AND HAVING AN UPRIGHT PASSAGE, AN ANNULAR STATIONARYHOLLOW STRUCTURE DISPOSED AT CONSIDERABLE HEIGHT ABOVE THE GROUND ANDSURROUNDING AND BEING SPACED FROM SAID SHAFT DEFINING WITH THE EXTERIORSURFACE OF THE SHAFT AN ANNULAR GAP, AND MEANS SUSPENDING SAID STRUCTUREENTIRELY FROM SAID SHAFT, INCLUDING AT LEAST TWO HOLLOW STATIONARY ARMSCONNECTED TO SAID SHAFT AND TO SAID STRUCTURE ESTABLISHING PASSAGEWAYSBETWEEN THE INTERIOR OF SAID STRUCTURE AND SAID PASSAGE, MEANS ENABLINGPASSENGERS TO MOVE IN SAID SHAFT PASSAGE TO AND FROM THE ARMS, WHEREBYTHE PASSENGERS MAY MOVE BETWEEN THE SHAFT AND THE HOLLOW ANNULARSTRUCTURE, AND SUSPENSION ELEMENTS CONNECTED TO SAID SHAFT ABOVE SAIDSTRUCTURE AND CONNECTED TO SAID STRUCTURE.